Outing to Malahide Castle and Gardens

Some of the SHS visitors to Malahide Castle

Outing to Malahide Castle and Gardens – Saturday 24th June 2017

A total of 31 SHS members and friends of Silvermines Historical Society set out for Dublin – leaving the village at 8am as pre-arranged (Andy Kennedy of Arra Travel, Silvermines providing the transport)

Arriving at Malahide Castle just before 11 am gave plenty of time for tea/coffee and to meet with four other friends/members i.e. Paddy Ryan, Mary O’Dowd, & Joan Grace (Gleeson sisters formerly of kilriffith) & Mary Kennedy  SHS member of Dolla & Clondalkin.  Avoca teashop /restaurant and shopping outlet are situated near to the Castle.

Malahide Castle & Gardens, managed & promoted by Shannon Heritage, Bunratty, Co Clare was home to the Talbot family from 1185 right through to 1976 – the year it was bought by Dublin City Council.

The first Talbot to settle at Malahide was Richard, a twelfth century Anglo-Norman knight of noble heritage. He was the common ancestor of all the twenty nine Talbot lords of Malahide who followed in his footsteps.  The last Talbot to live at Malahide, his descendant, was Rose, the unmarried sister of Lord Milo Talbot, whose death in 1973 led to the sale of the castle. She was sixty when she left Ireland in 1976 for another Malahide, in Tasmania: there she lived happily until her own death in 2009.  Her departure to the antipodes was a muted farewell to a family that had made such a mark on the history of Dublin and Fingal

A tour guide took the SHS group through the Oak Room, the large Drawing Room, and The Great Hall and then up the staircase to the Lady’s Bedroom, (with spectacular views of the front lawns), the children’s room in the middle nd the Gentleman’s bedroom – both bedrooms have ornate adjoining dressing rooms. The final leg of the tour was to the ground floor ‘interpretive display on the history of the Talbots and Malahide Castle.

Thereafter the impressive gardens were visited (included in €8.00 fee).  They consisted of the West Lawn, the Walled Garden and pond etc. it should also be noted that there is an Exhibition and Learning Area for children plus a picnic and playground area.

The SHS tour group spend the afternoon visiting the gardens and some took the 10/15 walk to the lovely village of Malahide to see its harbour and boats. Some also visited the Heritage Centre located in the Steward’s House beside the coach park.  Killeen born Paddy Ryan & now Malahide resident and member of Malahide Historical Society. The Centre is managed and ‘manned’ on a voluntary basis by the MHS and it is a marvellous collection of artefacts, photos and memorabilia of old Malahide.

A thoroughly enjoyable day out for Silvermines Historical Society

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